Help Jake Afford Leg Braces

[Diagnosis of CIDP and doctor's orders pictured above for proof of legitimacy]

Hi y'all, my name's Jake and I was recently diagnosed with Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP). CIDP is a rare and serious neurological disorder that can lead to paralysis if not treated. The onset of this disease hit me hard in September of 2021. The neuropathy affects both my arms and legs, resulting in extreme weakness. I struggled to walk and was not able to perform basic daily functions (showering, brushing my teeth, dressing myself...etc) without help from others. I am able to walk with a cane/walker and do basic tasks now, after some physical therapy and a lot of hard work.

I am in the middle of getting approved for treatment (IVIG, a type of infusion therapy), but as of now I have not received treatment and thus my nerve damage continues to get worse and I remain at risk for falls. My doctor assessed me and determined that AFO braces would significantly help me with things such as walking and going up stairs. I currently live in a second floor apartment and am unable to move to a ground floor unit. Leaving my apartment for doctor's appointments has been an absolute nightmare. I require a friend to go with me to appointments for safety reasons, in case I fall and need assistance. If I get these leg braces it would give me much more independence and would make the scheduling of doctor appointments a lot easier, as I would not need to rely on someone else to go with me.

Unfortunately my insurance will not cover any of the cost as I have not hit my deductible yet. The orthopaedist gave me a rough estimate of $600-$800 per brace, out of pocket. That is a price I absolutely cannot afford. I am currently on medical leave from my job, and have been relying on my savings to get by.

I am embarrassed to ask for help, but I know I can't afford this on my own. If you are able to donate please help me reach this goal. Anything helps and is appreciated, even if it's simply sharing this fundraiser with others. All funds donated will be used strictly to pay for these leg braces. Any funds potentially raised past the goal would go towards paying for my IVIG treatment, something that is also extremely expensive.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story <3